[MR] Lyme disease epidemic in Northern Atlantia area

[Isolda de Crosthwaite]

Mundanely, I'm a Park Ranger in Prince George's County, MD (Storvik).  This
time of year especially we do programs for local schools and give kids
information about ticks and Lyme disease.  We tell them to check their
bodies and clothing after being in the woods, or more likely, a field w/
tall grasses and bushes.  If you find them in the first 24 hours, it's rare
that you'll contract anything.  If you find a tick that's already bitten
into your skin, you can extract the tick and save it for a doctor to look
at.  (In the first 24 hours, he would not have cemented himself in yet, so
should be easier to extract.)  I would hope a doctor could identify the type
of tick, but if it's a deer tick, they'll probably just give antibiotics as
a precautionary measure.  I've heard they can test the deer tick to see if
it carries Lyme disease, but I've been told (when I went to go get myself
checked out) that it's rare that they actually do it.  Wearing light-colored
clothing can help as well--ticks like dark places, and it makes them easier
to see.  Long sleeves and long pants are better (but I know that's not
always gonna happen in the summer around here)

Personally, my advice is to not let this article freak you out, but do be
cautious when going outside into places like I mentioned above.  I've come
back to my office from a full day of being out in the woods, and found 5+
ticks on me...moer than onece.  I just make sure there are no more, take my
shower when I get home, and haven't had to worry about much else.

I hope this complements what was said before me.  :)

Regards,
Isolda de C.

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 11:53 PM, David Chessler <chessler at usa.net> wrote:

>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040703716.html?hpid=moreheadlines
>
> Lyme disease is spread by the "deer tick", a small tick. The tick infests
> small rodents as well as deer, and lives in grass. Ticks will wait on a
> grass stem until their prey (a warm-blooded animal) passes by and then they
> will attach themselves. They then spend some hours looking for a "protected"
> spot on the body to attach to and suck blood. This is why daily (nightly)
> full body inspections will be protective. They have been known to hide in
> head or body hair, and there is some belief that they particularly like to
> hide under tight clothing, such as underwear elastic.
>
> They are not reliably repelled by DEET, the insect repellent that works on
> most other pests. However, there is an effective clothing treatment.
>  Permethrin spray is an effective treatment that will last through several
> washings.
>
> Armed Forces Pest Management Board
>
>
> Technical Guide No. 36
>
>
> Personal Protective Measures Against Insects
>
> and Other Arthropods of Military Significance
>
> http://www.afpmb.org/coweb/guidance_targets/ppms/TG36/TG36.htm
>
> The spray is available in garden supply stores, outdoor shops, and the
> outdoor department of sporting goods stores or department stores.
>
> The alternative treatment, soaking the garments in the liquid, lasts
> longer, but is unnecessary for casual weekend or week-long camping.
>
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permethrin
>
> --
>
> YIS
>
> Davitt il Bigollo da Pisa
> Erudit de l'Academie de Espee de Atlantia
> Storvik (rapier)
> Roxbury Mill (other things)
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